Food & Drink

Shepherd Neame to ‘update cask's old-fashioned image’

26-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has unveiled a new initiative to modernise its cask offer and clear away the category’s cobwebs.

Brewery invests £100k to gain national pub listings

26-Feb-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

The duo behind Devon’s Stannary Brewing Company have pumped £100,000 into the business, increasing brewing capacity to 2,000 pints a day, in a bid to gain national listings.

Design rules shouldn’t stifle beer artwork

25-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

A panel discussion at the first trade session of Craft Beer Rising 2019 dissected rules governing can designs and why they don’t have to hamper creativity.

The challenges facing craft beer in 2019

22-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

A panel of brewers discussed what difficulties and opportunities lie in wait for the craft brewing sector in the next 12 months at Craft Beer Rising 2019

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What has influenced the evolution of pub food?

20-Feb-2019 By Michelle Perrett

Food in pubs across Britain has always been a movable feast, basic in some locations, high-end in others. But one thing is for sure, it has never stood still and it continues to evolve today.

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Seeing stars: how pubs have grown to rival restaurants

20-Feb-2019 By Emma Eversham

How did pubs come to compete with restaurants in the food stakes, and what makes one deserving of an accolade so often associated with ‘fine-dining’ restaurants?

Bid to become ‘world’s first’ self-sustaining brewery

20-Feb-2019 By Robert Mann

A brewery in Sussex that makes flour from leftover beer grains says it hopes to become the world's first self-sustaining brewery.

New Hogs Back keg range to compete with modern craft beers

20-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery will unveil a new beer keg range at Craft Beer Rising 2019 in London in its biggest new product launch since 2013.

Barley wine wins Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2019

20-Feb-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

A Norfolk brewery has taken home the title of Champion Winter Beer of Britain at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)’s competition, with its Audit Ale.

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A brief history of spirits and the ways we drink them

20-Feb-2019 By Helen Gilbert

It wasn’t such a long time ago in pubs when customers had a choice of one brand when it came to ordering their favourite spirit. How times have changed – now we’re spoilt for choice. Industry experts assess the major changes on the top shelf

BrewDog partner to highlight craft beer culture’s lack of diversity

19-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

Independent craft brewer and pub operator BrewDog has revealed that American craft beer lifestyle brand Crowns & Hops will be the first beneficiary of its development fund.

Fears grow over vegan protests

19-Feb-2019 By Robert Mann

In recent months, businesses have been subject to protests from vegan activists who have taken their war against the meat industry to extreme lengths.

CAMRA chair steps down

18-Feb-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) chair Jackie Parker is stepping down from the post after a year in the role.

Pub closures slow to 14 a week

18-Feb-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

There are now 14 pubs closing a week, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) – a drop of four per week compared to last year.

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Exclusive interview: How Government got the Beer Orders wrong

15-Feb-2019 By Phil Mellows

Now chair of the Pub Governing Body, Sir Peter Luff reflects on the 1989 controversy that, like Brexit, split the Tory Party and changed the face of the brewery industry

Johnnie Walker site leads £150m Diageo investment

14-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

Spirits giant Diageo has submitted plans to transform a landmark Edinburgh site into a global visitor centre for whisky brand Johnnie Walker.

Carlsberg bolsters commitment to craft beer with new brews

14-Feb-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Brewer Carlsberg has added new craft beers to its portfolio, including brews from its recently acquired London Fields brewery, in a bid to strengthen its commitment to the segment.

Pink gin’s on-trade value rockets

14-Feb-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Pink gin generated record sales across the UK last year, as punters fill their glasses to the brim with the fruity liquid.

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How did beer and pubs become so closely intertwined?

13-Feb-2019 By James Beeson

Everyone agrees that beer and the great British pub go hand in hand, but how exactly did this fruitful relationship begin, and will the two remain forever intertwined?

Global thirst for gin shows no sign of slowing, says WSTA

13-Feb-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

British gin sales abroad in 2018 were up 15% on the previous year to £612m, according to new statistics from HMRC.

Free beer for Norwich City season ticket holders

12-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

Fans of the high-flying Canaries will be able to toast the club’s recent success with a free beer at their next home fixture.

Producer launches 'UK first' cannabis-infused gin

12-Feb-2019 By Robert Mann

An English producer has launched what is believed to be the UK's first cannabis-infused gin, which will bring the total of hemp gins available worldwide up to just four.

Time to offer some vegan dishes?

11-Feb-2019 By Poppleston Allen

One continuing trend that kicked off 2019 is ‘Veganuary’, encouraging people to go vegan for January in aid of charity.

UK’s ‘first apprenticeship for brewers’ launched

11-Feb-2019 By Emily Hawkins

An 18-month course will offer aspiring beer makers the chance to gain a qualification in brewing in the first apprenticeship of its kind.

Supermarket beer sales still significantly outperforming pubs

11-Feb-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

Sales of beer in pubs saw a rise of 2.2% in the last quarter of 2018, however, this increase was lower than the growth in supermarket beer sales of 3.8%, when compared to the same period in 2017.

‘Beer before wine, always fine’ saying is false

08-Feb-2019 By Emily Hawkins

The common saying that drinkers will ‘feel fine’ when drinking beer before wine has been disproved by a new study.

BrewDog appoints first CEO of beer

06-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

Independent craft brewer and pub operator BrewDog has appointed the former managing director of Red Bull UK as its inaugural CEO of beer.

Big interview

More small breweries closing than opening, says SIBA chairman

06-Feb-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Ian Fozard may have quite a lot on his plate with major changes at his Rooster’s Brewery, but that hasn’t stopped him from also campaigning for radical change to beer tax and small breweries relief in his role as chairman of SIBA

Why pubs should brew their own beer

05-Feb-2019 By James Beeson

Locality and a story are two of the most attractive things for a customer when deciding what to drink in the pub. Brewing your own beer could be an excellent way to make your venue stand out from the competition

Bottle of wine becomes 7p more expensive

01-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

An inflationary rise in wine duty came into effect at midnight on 1 February.

Dark Star gets new canning line

01-Feb-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

Fuller’s-owned Dark Star has had a series of recent investments made into its brewery site in West Sussex.

‘Gin boom’ continues to drive growth for Diageo

31-Jan-2019 By Stuart Stone

Spirits maker Diageo, which owns brands Smirnoff, Guinness and Johnnie Walker, has revealed that continued growth in gin sales helped the drinks mogul achieve a 5.8% net sales increase in the second half of 2018.

AB InBev scraps connection fees for small brewers

31-Jan-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Budweiser and Stella Artois brewer AB InBev has launched new line fees, which are claimed to be fairer than those already on the market and which involve scrapping charges for small producers.

Beers that changed the world

30-Jan-2019 By James Beeson

Every so often a beer comes along that stands out from the rest; a beer that clears a pathway for others to follow. Without these iconic products, beer as we know it would be a very different proposition

Give customers a hot hit in winter

30-Jan-2019 By Robert Mann

As coffee shops continue to pop up on our high streets – is now the time to rethink your hot beverage offer to cater for the punter of the future?

Drinkaware campaign targets Dry January consumers

30-Jan-2019 By Robert Mann

Alcohol education charity Drinkaware is encouraging consumers to cut down on their drinking by taking more drink-free days throughout the year, not just in January.

430 new UK craft breweries opened in 2017

30-Jan-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

More than 400 craft breweries businesses were unveiled in the UK in the 12 months to 31 December 2017, as craft beer increased its market share in the on and off-trade, new research has revealed.

Whitby Gin scoops prestigious World Gin Award

29-Jan-2019 By Robert Mann

Whitby Gin has pipped its competition to the post after scooping the top UK spot for the Best London Gin at the World Gin Awards.

Gin boom almost triples UK distilleries in five years

29-Jan-2019 By Robert Mann

The boom in gin sales in the UK has led the number of distilleries almost tripling in five years, new results have revealed.

How has the trade reacted to the Fuller's and Asahi deal?

28-Jan-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

Asahi acquiring Fuller’s brewing business last week (25 January) was a “very sad day”, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Opinion

Why Dry January is working for me

28-Jan-2019 By Pete Brown

Improved technologies in de-alcoholising beer means people can enjoy products that used to be unpalatable

In association with Ceder’s

How to make an alcohol-free gin and tonic

25-Jan-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

For those not wanting to compromise on taste, but not yet ready to get back into the saddle of alcohol, a CEDER’S Stinger may be the ideal solution.

How 'craft beer' is defined

25-Jan-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

Craft? Artisan? Is there a term that describes the type of beer your customers may be happily getting stuck into lately? Perhaps it doesn’t even matter if it can be pigeon-holed.

Pleisure launches 'plucky' beer in lease campaign

25-Jan-2019 By Emily Hawkins

A licensee hopes a locally-brewed beer will raise awareness of his campaign for a lease renewal from Ei Group.

Fuller's sells beer arm to Asahi for £250m

25-Jan-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Brewer and pub operator Fuller's has agreed to sell its brewing business to Asahi for £250m.

Pubgoers can 'apple pay' for cider at London taproom

24-Jan-2019 By Emily Hawkins

A London-based cidery wants to help customers through the gloom of January by allowing them to pay for a pint of cider with an apple.

Fake alcohol surge: how can operators stay clear?

23-Jan-2019 By Robert Mann

Following a sharp increase in the number of fake alcohol brands plaguing the UK, The Morning Advertiser takes a look at how publicans can keep well clear.

Why in 2019 we’ll see fewer people eating out, but more spend

23-Jan-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Punters will eat out on fewer occasions over the next two years, but will spend more money due to menu price increases and by having more dishes delivered.

Dry January ‘will be the death’ of British pubs, landlords warn

22-Jan-2019 By Robert Mann

Pubs have described this month’s Dry January as a ‘nightmare’ for the industry, as more than 5m drinkers sign up for the booze-free period.

Thatchers unveils new rosé bottle cider

22-Jan-2019 By Nikkie Sutton

Thatchers has launched a 500ml bottle rosé cider in a bid to provide innovation in the back fridge in the on-trade.